50 winners selected from over 200 nominations by a panel of 11 industry leading judges

Inspiring Fifty Netherlands 2019 is an initiative to highlight the women driving the tech industry in the Netherlands, providing more visibility and recognition to these inspiring role models. Seeing is believing.

It is an initiative that aims to increase diversity in technology by making female role models more visible.

Amsterdam, 7th May: Today Inspiring Fifty Netherlands announced the 50 technology trailblazers, innovators and executives that are shifting perceptions of what women can and do achieve in this sector.

The Inspiring Fifty Netherlands 2019 Awards are held in collaboration with Codam Coding College, Uber and Career Team.

The awards event hosted at Codam Coding College brought together leaders and influencers across the technology field that champion women and value the positive impact increased diversity has on all aspects of business including revenue growth, innovation and culture.

In 2018, research by investors Eva de Mol and Janneke Niessen revealed that women-led startups are less likely to receive funding from venture capital investors.

This data reiterates the importance of increasing the diversity in the industry, together with more female role models to pave the way and encourage girls and women to enter the STEM field. The 2019 winners are directly shaping the future of the Netherlands technology sector. It is critical to acknowledge their work and provide them with a platform so that more of these women become household names, inspiring future leaders and entrepreneurs to follow in their footsteps.

“As a technology sector we are missing a huge opportunity worldwide. Both from an economic and socio-emotional point of view, gender parity is of great value. Therefore we must now fight with all our might to achieve it.”

Steven Schuurman, Founder of Elastic

In addition to recognizing the winners, the awards evening showcased an inspirational speaker from the Netherlands, Corinne Vigreux. As Co-Founder of TomTom & Codam Coding College, Vigreux is an incredible female role model and a great supporter of the initiative.

“The future is digital and people who will have the tools to unlock its potential will be the creators of tomorrow’s world. Women have got a crucial role to play and “Inspiring Fifty” has done more to increasing diversity in the tech world than any other initiatives I have come across by celebrating women involved in technology, giving them a platform to be acknowledged and celebrating their achievements and as such inspiring others “

Corinne Vigreux, Founder Codam

The Inspiring Fifty initiative was established by Joelle Frijters and Janneke Niessen and to spotlight the incredible women who excel in their tech careers, first in the Netherlands and increasingly around the world, and prove this is an industry in which women can and do succeed.

InspiringFifty is active internationally, across Europe, South Africa, Canada and soon Asia. You may not know all of the women on the list, but each of them should be on your radar as incredible women shaping the future.

“Today we’re celebrating 50 women that have made major contributions to the Netherlands technology industry. Their courage to push forward against the status quo and hard-fought success that makes them inspiring role models. It’s important that the industry, government, public and the wider business community understand that the example set by the Inspiring Fifty will help transform the industry’s workforce, improving the sustainability of the Dutch economy.”

“Diverse teams perform better, and female founders often perform better than their male counterparts. It is a missed opportunity that so few women-led businesses receive venture capital. A thriving ecosystem should strongly promote female entrepreneurship and investment opportunities.”

ENDS

About Inspiring Fifty

InspiringFifty is a non-profit that aims to increase diversity in tech by making female role models in tech more visible. The Inspiring Fifty initiative was established by Janneke Niessen and Joelle Frijters to spotlight the incredible women excelling in tech careers, first in the Netherlands and increasingly around the world, and prove this is an industry in which women can and do thrive against unfavourable odds. Some you will know, others you might not- but all should be on your radar as kick ass women, who are the key driving forces behind top businesses. Women that will help shape the future and realise ground breaking innovation. These trailblazers, innovators and boss women play a major role in challenging the industry’s norms of what makes a leader. The InspiringFifty are important role models for encouraging more girls and women in technology, as well as inspiring future leaders and entrepreneurs to follow in their footsteps. Role models must be seen to be truly effective… because seeing is believing. You can’t be what you can’t see.

Supporters of InspiringFifty, both men and women, champion women and minorities in tech and value the positive impact that increased diversity has on everything from business growth and innovation to culture and productivity. They recognize diversity and inclusion as a strategic opportunity. They know being a role model and acting upon that, is key in making a change.